Improvement in fifth-wheels for vehicles



UNTTED STA-Tas PATENT Grrr-ea.-

WILLIAM J. LAGKIE, OF OANTON, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT lN FIFTH-WHEELS FOR VEHICLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 221,831., datedNovember 18, 1879; application filed August 1, 1879.2

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM: J. LAcKrE, of Canton, in the county ofStark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Platform-Frames and Fifth- Wheels for Viagons; and l dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, which will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the frames forplatform-springs of vehicles, and

in the fifth-wheels that are-combined with said frames.

It has for one object to construct the frame and wheel of less materialand of fewer pieces than have heretofore been used; and to this end itconsists in forming the frame of four wooden pieces mortised togetherand strengthcned by means of metal clamps extending from end to end ofthe frame, and bolted both to the end pieces and to the side piecesinsuch man ner as to give them great durability; and in order tostrengthen the frame still more', I place the lower part of thefifth-wheel directly upon the side pieces, and so secure it thereto thatthe wheel operates as a brace for the side pieces.

Another object is to provide an improved fifth-wheel, which consists oftwo parts, that are extremely simple in form, and that are looselyclamped together by a simple but effective clamp. To this end lconstructthe fifthwheel of two annular plates, thelower of which is castwith an upwardly -projecting flange at its inner periphery, and theupper of which is mounted outside of said flange, and is prevented fromescaping from proper position by means of a peculiar clamp or clampsattached to the lower part after the upper part has been pnt in place.

Figure lis a perspective view of my im proved device. Fig. 2 isavertieal section through the same.

In the drawings the frame is represented as constructed of the rear bar,A, the side pieces, A A', and the front bar, A2. These parts are joinedtogether by mortise and tenon as shown at a a.

B B are metal clamps, extending from the rear bar, A, to the front bar,A2, being bolted or otherwise firmly secured to said bars and to theoutside of the side bars.

I have found that a frame constructed in `this manner is` unich strongerthan those of the ordinary construction, and requires much less materialand fewer parts. The frame and wheel are supported upon threeplatformsprings, tWo of which are attached to the axle at right anglesthereto, and of which the third is situated in rear of the axle, and isattached at its ends to the rear ends of the side springs, respectively.

The frame above described is supported at the rear end by placing. therear bar, A, upon the rear spring and bolting it thereto, and at thefront end by attaching the ends of the front bar, A2, to the front endsof the side springs, respectively. Y

The tongue or shafts may be fastened to the front bar, A2, by anyordinary means of connection.

The fifthwheel is supported upon the side pieces, A A', of the frame,and it is composed of the two plates C and D. The lower part.l O, isformed `with a flange, c, around its inner edge to furnish a bearing forthe upper part of the wheel. This plate O is bolted to the pieces A A ofthe frame, and operates to se curely brace them at a proper pointbetweer the ends. rlhe upper part, D, of the wheel i: formed with acentral opening large enough t( permit it (said upper part) to surroundthi flange 0.

The flan ge forms a large bearing for th wheel, and at the same timeavoids the neces sity of the king-bolt, making a much stronge and saferconstruction. The wagon -bed i bolted to the cross-bar E.

A simple but perfectly efficient means fo holding the parts of the wheeltogether is pr( vided, as follows: F is abar bolted to the unde side ofthe lower part, C, of the wheel, and sitr ated substantially upon thecentral longitud nal line of the frame A Al A2. Y G is a guid or clamppiece, bent at 'the proper points an angles to forni the vertical partsg and tl horizontal parts g. After the parts C andi of the wheel havebeen put together this pier G is bolted to the bar F, so that the partsshall be' situated in the central opening of tl wheel, and so that thehorizontal parts g shall extend over the ztnge c and over part of thenppersurfaee ofthe wheel. This prevents any displacement of the parts ofthe wheel7 and holds them firmly together.

The crossbar E is held.- by means of washers or other suitable devicesuieiently fer above the plate D to permit the cross-bar to rotatefreely above the guide or clamp pieces g g.

What I claim is- The combination of the bar F, bolted to the under sideof the fifth-wheel, and the lockingber Gr, bolted to the said ber FWithin the een. i

tml open space of vthe Wheel, and extending continuously from onel sideof said open space QQLSSH to the other, and bent to form the verticalparts g and the horizontal parts g', with the fifth-wheel, composed ofthe annular plate C, provided with the ange e at 011e edge, and theplate D, the outer with the outer edge of the lower part, substantiallyas set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I afx my signature inpresence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM J. LAGKIE.

'Witnesses J. P. FAWGETT, HENRY FISHER.

edge of which is ush l

